Praise be to Allah.
The correct view is that if a person recites the basmalah when beginning his reading of Quran in the middle of a surah, that is not recommended, because Allah says in His Book (interpretation of the meaning):
{When you recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan} [An-Nahl 16:98].
He did not instruct us to say anything else. Therefore so long as there is a specific text concerning the matter which states that what is required from the one who wants to read Quran is to seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan, this text makes specific what is mentioned in general terms in the hadith, “Every important matter that does not start with ‘Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim (in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful), is devoid of blessings.” End quote.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him).
Liqa’at al-Bab al-Maftuh (1/177).
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